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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 4 · Chapter 30: The Activities of the Pracetās
4.30.454.30.47

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.30.46

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.30.43inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

भस्मसात्क्रियमाणांस्तान् द्रुमान्वीक्ष्य पितामह: ।

आगत: शमयामास पुत्रान् बर्हिष्मतो नयै: ॥ ४६ ॥

bhasmasāt kriyamāṇāṁs tān

drumān vīkṣya pitāmahaḥ

āgataḥ śamayām āsa

putrān barhiṣmato nayaiḥ

Translation

After seeing that all the trees on the surface of the earth were being turned to ashes, Lord Brahmā immediately came to the sons of King Barhiṣmān and pacified them with words of logic.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Restore Peace Through Sound Reasoning

  1. 1

    Seeing the trees being reduced to ashes, Lord Brahmā immediately came to the sons of King Barhiṣmān. He pacified them with words of logic.

  2. 2

    Lord Brahmā is responsible for the universe and acts when uncommon disturbances arise. His responsibility includes maintaining peace and harmony.

  3. 3

    The purport applies this principle to any establishment: a responsible person stays alert to preserve peace. Good reasoning can help pacify a disturbed situation.

Key points from the purport
  • Whenever there is some uncommon occurrence on any planet, Lord Brahmā, being in charge of the whole universe, immediately comes to control the situation.
  • Lord Brahmā also came when Hiraṇyakaśipu underwent severe penances and austerities and made the whole universe tremble.
  • Similarly, Lord Brahmā is also allowed to keep peace and harmony within this universe.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Search → Devotional resolution. Prayer and instruction redirect household and societal life.

Chapters 30–31 of Canto 4: Pracetās and Nārada's concluding guidance. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 30: The Activities of the Pracetās

The Lord appears to the Pracetās, who pray only for His satisfaction; Brahmā later pacifies them.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.30
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhasmasātinto ashes
  2. kriyamāṇānbeing made
  3. tānall of them
  4. drumānthe trees
  5. vīkṣyaseeing
  6. pitāmahaḥLord Brahmā
  7. āgataḥcame there
  8. śamayām āsapacified
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.30

    In this verse: “king”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where could I help preserve peace by listening carefully and speaking reasonably?

Practice

In one disagreement today, offer a calm, reasoned response rather than adding to the agitation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.30's connections

Live this todayRestore Peace Through Sound ReasoningThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 4.30.46? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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